Called by non-violent direct action group Extinction Rebellion (XR), it has seen action in scores of countries.

For four days, central London has seen occupations at four sites—Parliament Square, Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge and Marble Arch.

A delegation of climate rebels from Scotland arrived on Thursday morning to support the occupation at Parliament Square. They brought lots of blue XR signs - and bagpipes.

Police have apparently targeted activists at random on Waterloo Bridge for three consecutive nights, and have arrested several legal observers.

Thousands of protesters have managed to occupy the spaces partly by having big numbers, and also by filling the streets with pieces of large infrastructure.

Other demonstrators are in trees or locked to the stages that are at the centre of some of the spaces.

In dramatic scenes on Wednesday night, hundreds of cops flooded into Parliament Square and dismantled two of the four roadblocks of tents and banners that helped keep traffic off the road.

But activists called in reinforcements from other sites and, by the early hours of Thursday morning, had re-established all existing roadblocks.

Ella from south London had stayed up part of the night to help occupy Waterloo Bridge. But despite a long night and cold temperatures they said the experience meant “it really feels like I’m part of something—this is so important”.

Ella has been taking to the streets since the age of 14 but said “this is making a difference, it’s unlike anything I’ve done before”.

Arrests

And Ella said the next step is “just about resisting—we’ve had some arrests but we need to keep going”.

Will is a member of the stewarding team at Parliament Square, and had travelled overnight by coach from Leeds to be part of the action.He told Socialist Worker that taking part was a hugely positive experience.

“I’m tentatively feeling hopeful,” he said. “I’m sick of the despair and the personal guilt every time get in a car. There are people here protesting that wouldn’t normally be on protests.